STAFF at HJ Lea Oakes helped net more than £1,000 for Cheshire charities by posing for a picture with the most-coveted prize in English football – the Premier League Trophy.

The trophy arrived at the animal feed manufacturer’s mill in Aston heavily guarded by security men and was set up in an area where colleagues and visitors could donate £5 to charity for a unique photo with the famous trophy.

A chance to ‘treasure the football trophy at your place of work for the day’ was an auction prize at the Cheshire High Sheriff’s Charity Ball at Dorfold Park in Nantwich last July and the company bid for the opportunity to treat its employees and have it displayed at its headquarters.

Staff from all areas of the mill took turns to be pictured with the impressive silver and gold plated accolade, weighing 4st and encrusted with South African gemstone representing the green of a football pitch.

Joining them was HJ Lea Oakes managing director Arthur Preston. He said: “It was a unique opportunity to see an iconic emblem of English football.

“We were thrilled at the enthusiasm of our employees to be pictured with it and chip in so generously to the collection.”

The trophy’s next port of call was Mornflake in Crewe where company managing director, John Lea, the High Sheriff of Cheshire, was also pictured with it.

Funds raised with go to the High Sheriff’s charities – Cheshire Crimebeat, St Luke’s Cheshire Hospice and DectCred, an educational organisation helping young people make sound financial decisions.

HJ Lea Oakes supplies animal feeds across the county from mills in Aston near Nantwich, Wheelock near Sandbach and Hightown in Congleton. It also runs a chain of pet food superstores.